Flag |
Date |
Use |
Description
|
|
1541-1821
|
Burgundy Cross, flag of the Spanish Overseas Territories
|
A red saltire resembling two crossed, roughly-pruned (knotted) branches, on a white field.
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|
1821-1823
|
Flag of the First Mexican Empire
|
Three vertical strips green, white and red, with the Imperial Coat of Arms in the center.
|
|
1823
|
First Costa Rican National Flag
|
Three horizontal strips blue, yellow and blue.
|
|
1823-1824
|
Second Costa Rican National Flag
|
White field with a six-pointed red star.
|
|
1823-1849
|
Flag of the United Provinces of Central America
|
Three horizontal strips light blue (upper and lower) and white (central), with the coat of arms in the center.
|
|
1824-1838
|
First flag of the State of Costa Rica (within the United Provinces of Central America)
|
Same as UPCA flag, with the State Seal in the lower strip.
|
|
1838-1842
|
Second flag of the State of Costa Rica (within the United Provinces of Central America)
|
Three horizontal strips white, blue and white, with the State Seal in blue strip.
|
|
1842-1848
|
Third flag of the State of Costa Rica (within the United Provinces of Central America)
|
Three horizontal strips blue, white and b.ue, with the State Seal in white strip.
|
|
1848-1906
|
First flag after break of UPCA
|
Same as actual flag, with the National Coat of Arms in the center.
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|
1906-1964
|
State flag from 1906 to 1964
|
The number of stars appeared on Coat of Arms was 5 since 1848. In 1906 the style of Coat of Arms was slightly modified, and the one appeared on State Flag was also modified, narrowed and was put into a white oval lied near to the hoist of the flag.
|
|
1964-1998
|
State flag from 1964 to 1998
|
In 1964 a law was passed by government to increase the numbers of the stars from 5 to 7, to reflect the increase of number of its provinces. In 1998 a decree was passed by government about the design of National Coat of Arms, and according to the decree there should be some smoke ejecting from three volcanoes as current look.
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